Congratulations! You made it! You survived and excelled in your student teaching. You are now a science teacher! If you would, take a few minutes to share your wisdom about how to negotiate this difficult year with the students who are following in your footsteps by answering the following questions.
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
-If you are getting your middle level endorsement as well, visit both schools once a week. Yes this takes up more time but seeing the students and becoming familiar with your CT each week will be well worth it.
-The unit plan is extremely overwhelming but it will help you during your time student teaching [do it for a high school lesson]. Remember, while student teaching, all your lessons you prepare will not be that detailed but getting that practice will help you in the long run.
-Google/search for activities online for various topics in your content for a specific topic [genetics, photosynthesis, etc.] that way when it comes time you can just click open a folder on your computer and browse through your potential activities to use. Most of my time during student teaching was spent finding quality activities to do and when I couldn't find them you have to create them which takes time.
-Be as bubbly and personable as possible! Faculty and principals want someone in their school and potentially on their staff who is excited and likes being in school and with students.
-Get to know students names during the fall--one less thing to worry about come spring and they'll feel like you took the time to know them right from the start.
-See what works for your CT and what doesn't as far as classroom management goes. You'll see that certain students can handle certain techniques [sarcasm, social cues, etc].
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
-Classroom management--you can anticipate what you would do in a certain situation but until you are in front of the classroom and have to react, you won't know.
-Unit plan--plan a great unit for a relevant/large unit for the high school [middle school lesson plans are easier than high school] and plan it well. That way during student teaching, you don't have to worry as much come those couple of weeks.
-Take advantage of the observations--become a part of the classroom--help out, walk around the room when students are working on an activity that way come spring you're already a familiar face and not just some college student who sat in the back of the room.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
-researched activities and gotten a hold of resources asap from my CT. That way even if you spend a couple of hours a week jotting down some ideas for certain topics, you're already one step ahead [even if it's just a bunch of helpful websites]
-taught a couple of lessons during December observations--that way the students see you as a teacher figure prior to you starting student teaching and you can relax a bit more over winter break knowing that you've taught a couple of times and won't have the first day anxiety in your head all break.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share? -be organized! have a separate binder/folder for each class/block and even go as far as having a graded and ungraded folder for each class/block...very helpful during class when students hand in papers quickly and when you have to hand back papers
-have multiple flash drives [1 back up too!]...this way you can work on notes/activities/labs at home and also bring them to school to work on them on the school/classroom computer if available...TIME IS PRECIOUS! The more work you get done in school the less you have to do when you get home!
-trying to have a good relationship with your students can be difficult because you want to be their friend and let them know that you understand where they're coming from [hey you are a student too!] so trying to find that balance is hard. It is easier to be firm in the beginning and let up as the weeks progress but difficult to be fun and uber relaxed all the time and then when one student misbehaves try and lay down the law--they will not take you seriously! Have fun with them and laugh but remember you are the teacher and it is school and they are there to learn.
-most importantly--be flexible, and be excited about what you are teaching--if you express to students 'Okay let's just get through this activity and then class will be over' they will not get into it because you aren't! You put in the time to plan it and you love science...so get into it!
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
-If you are getting your middle level endorsement as well, visit both schools once a week. Yes this takes up more time but seeing the students and becoming familiar with your CT each week will be well worth it.
-The unit plan is extremely overwhelming but it will help you during your time student teaching [do it for a high school lesson]. Remember, while student teaching, all your lessons you prepare will not be that detailed but getting that practice will help you in the long run.
-Google/search for activities online for various topics in your content for a specific topic [genetics, photosynthesis, etc.] that way when it comes time you can just click open a folder on your computer and browse through your potential activities to use. Most of my time during student teaching was spent finding quality activities to do and when I couldn't find them you have to create them which takes time.
-Be as bubbly and personable as possible! Faculty and principals want someone in their school and potentially on their staff who is excited and likes being in school and with students.
-Get to know students names during the fall--one less thing to worry about come spring and they'll feel like you took the time to know them right from the start.
-See what works for your CT and what doesn't as far as classroom management goes. You'll see that certain students can handle certain techniques [sarcasm, social cues, etc].
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
-Classroom management--you can anticipate what you would do in a certain situation but until you are in front of the classroom and have to react, you won't know.
-Unit plan--plan a great unit for a relevant/large unit for the high school [middle school lesson plans are easier than high school] and plan it well. That way during student teaching, you don't have to worry as much come those couple of weeks.
-Take advantage of the observations--become a part of the classroom--help out, walk around the room when students are working on an activity that way come spring you're already a familiar face and not just some college student who sat in the back of the room.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
-researched activities and gotten a hold of resources asap from my CT. That way even if you spend a couple of hours a week jotting down some ideas for certain topics, you're already one step ahead [even if it's just a bunch of helpful websites]
-taught a couple of lessons during December observations--that way the students see you as a teacher figure prior to you starting student teaching and you can relax a bit more over winter break knowing that you've taught a couple of times and won't have the first day anxiety in your head all break.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
-be organized! have a separate binder/folder for each class/block and even go as far as having a graded and ungraded folder for each class/block...very helpful during class when students hand in papers quickly and when you have to hand back papers
-have multiple flash drives [1 back up too!]...this way you can work on notes/activities/labs at home and also bring them to school to work on them on the school/classroom computer if available...TIME IS PRECIOUS! The more work you get done in school the less you have to do when you get home!
-trying to have a good relationship with your students can be difficult because you want to be their friend and let them know that you understand where they're coming from [hey you are a student too!] so trying to find that balance is hard. It is easier to be firm in the beginning and let up as the weeks progress but difficult to be fun and uber relaxed all the time and then when one student misbehaves try and lay down the law--they will not take you seriously! Have fun with them and laugh but remember you are the teacher and it is school and they are there to learn.
-most importantly--be flexible, and be excited about what you are teaching--if you express to students 'Okay let's just get through this activity and then class will be over' they will not get into it because you aren't! You put in the time to plan it and you love science...so get into it!